China coal mine blast kills 82, more missing

A devastating gas explosion at the Liushenyu coal mine in China's Shanxi province has claimed the lives of at least 82 workers. The blast occurred Friday evening, trapping 247 individuals underground. While most were rescued by Saturday morning, intensive search efforts continue for nine still unaccounted for.

State media reported the incident, showing rescuers at the scene with ambulances present. President Xi Jinping has ordered all-out efforts to treat the injured and stressed the need for thorough investigations into the cause. He also emphasized that all regions must learn from this accident to prevent future catastrophic events. A person deemed "responsible for" the company has been detained.

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all-out efforts

This disaster highlights ongoing safety concerns in China's coal industry. Shanxi, a major coal-producing province, has historically struggled with lax safety protocols and vague regulations, despite improvements in recent decades. The country, the world's top coal consumer, has seen similar tragedies, including a 2023 mine collapse that killed 53 and a 2009 explosion that claimed over 100 lives.

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all regions and departments must draw lessons from this accident, remain constantly vigilant regarding workplace safety… and resolutely prevent and curb the occurrence of major and catastrophic accidents